With tornadoes bearing down, an aquarium encouraged guests to take shelter with its sharks

Share this:

OLUSTEE, OK – MAY 10: Viewed from the window of a tornado scout vehicle, a supercell thunderstorm develops, May 10, 2017 in Olustee, Oklahoma. Wednesday was the group’s third day in the field for the 2017 tornado season for their research project titled ‘TWIRL.’ With funding from the National Science Foundation and other government grants, scientists and meteorologists from the Center for Severe Weather Research try to get close to supercell storms and tornadoes trying to better understand tornado structure and strength, how low-level winds affect and damage buildings, and to learn more about tornado formation and prediction. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Tuesday morning in Tulsa began with a confirmed tornado and a blaring warning from the National Weather Service: “Take shelter now!”

One offer of shelter came from an unexpected and oddly entertaining source: the Oklahoma Aquarium, which says it has a secure storm shelter under its shark tank.

The shark tunnel and dome — home to an exhibit of bull and nurse sharks — is constructed from concrete “over a foot thick” and “designed to handle extreme force due to the weight of the water in the exhibit,” according to a social media post from the aquarium’s verified account.

More importantly, though, the Oklahoma Aquarium wants you to know that their storm shelter has “the best view in Oklahoma.”

Tuesday morning’s powerful twister was located before 7 a.m., over the Tulsa International Airport; the aquarium is 19 miles south of the airport. The storm was moving northeast at around 50 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

Storms continue in northeast Oklahoma on Tuesday; several flash flood, thunderstorm and tornado warnings had already been issued before Noon. Streets in Tulsa have been barricaded by Tulsa officials since 4 a.m., due to flooding.

“Do NOT drive around the barricades. Doing so puts not only your life at risk, but also rescue crews,” the National Weather Service cautioned.

The Oklahoma Aquarium had a different message: “Stop by today during normal business hours,” it wrote, for “storm-free fun.”